Allardyce determined to succeed at Newcastle in 'most volatile' season ever

Sunday 30 December 2007 12:56 BST

Under-fire Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce admits he is battling to survive in what he describes as the most 'volatile' Premiership season ever.

The pressure continues to mount on Allardyce following his side's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, in a game where his opposite number, Avram Grant, was abused following a double substitution which saw Michael Ballack and Joe Cole replaced.

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Grant refused to condemn the fans for their outbursts but Allardyce is well aware of the price managers have had to pay and added that abuse from the fans is something they have to live with in the modern game.

Under pressure: Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce

Allardyce said: "It is typical of the expectation that surrounds the game today. That is something we all have to accept and live with.

"Before the season started, with that amount of money spent, you knew it was going to be the most volatile season and it has proven to be that already. We are just half way through it and seven managers have gone already.

"It is a hugely competitive league and bigger than ever before. More people have entered into the transfer market than ever before, spent more money - £530million this summer - it means that clubs like Sunderland, who got promoted, are into the £30-odd millions, which has never been seen before.

"Other clubs who staved off relegation going into the £20millions. We are all competing with everybody's funding of new players and trying to stay in and be successful in the Premier League.

"It is the only league to play in. Rome can't be built overnight. That has always been the expectation here so our focus is to make sure that pressure does not come on us by continuing to get results and that's what we have got to do. We can then grow slowly but surely to hopefully sustain more and more success as the years go by."